Control valve apparatus for vacuum operated devices



35E? E935., Q B KiNG CONTROL VALVE APPARATUS FCR VACUUM CPERATED DEVICES Filed May 17, 1932 NVENT'OR 'harles B. Kin

BY b l g /ATTORNEYS Patented July 30, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL VALVE APPARATUS FOR. VACUM OPERATED DEVICES 16 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to control valve apparatus for control of vacuum operated devices, and has for its object the provision of a valve apparatus for this purpose.

The type of vacuum operated device for which this control valve apparatus is intended is usually employed to supplement cr supplant personal operation of various mechanisms, such as brakes, clutches and the like. It is customary to actuate such mechanisms by means of a vacuum operated device including a cylinder and piston, or a diaphragm, or similar means that is eX- posed to atmosphere on one side and adapted toV bel put into communication on its other side with the atmosphere or with air at sub-atmospheric pressure, as may be desired. The functions of the control valve apparatus comprise connecting the vacuum operated device with the vacuum producing means to operate the piston, diaphragm, or the like, when it is desired to actuate the mechanism, as for instance, to'apply the brakes; connecting the vacuum operated device with the atmosphere, thereby permitting the piston to be returned by a spring or the like to its original position as in releasing the brakes; and also sealing the vacuum providing means when not needed for producing movement of the operated device.

A control valve apparatus for serving these functions should be adapted to permit holding the actuated mechanism in a desired position as long as necessary, as where brakes are applied, to hold them approximately at a given tightness as long as desired, and the valved passages should be of ample area to ensure rapid movement of the air and quick response of the actuated mechanism when wanted.

The present invention provides a control valve apparatus that fullls these requirements by means of novel combinations, constructions and arrangement of parts, and which may be embodied for example in the preferred apparatus that is described hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a side elevation of the control valve apparatus,

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional View on an enlarged scale, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, s

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views similar to Fig. 2, with the parts in three different positions,

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the lower portion of the casing or housing, viewed on plane 6 6, Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is a plan view of an annular disc valve, and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a spring disc to be used with the diaphragm valve or disc valve of Fig. 7.

The control valve apparatus designated generally by the reference character I0, comprises a pair of hollow casing members I2 and I4, held together by screws I6, and having clamped between them the annular disc valve or diaphragm valve i8 of yielding material, such as composition sheet packing, for example, having a central aperture 2B, and also the annular spring disc 22, of the same shape, of metal or other suitable material, and preferably slitted at 24 to form spring tongues 2B. Spring disc 22 superimposed on valve I8 serves to return and hold it on its seat while permitting it to be opened or lifted when desired. In some cases the spring disc 22 may be'omitted, and a compression spring 23 inserted as shown in Fig. 3, or member I8 may have suicient springiness of its own, to permit dispensing with both the spring disc and the compression spring, as shown.

On one side of, preferably above, the disc valve I8 is the chamber 28 in the casing member I2, and chamber 28 is in communication with the atmosphere through the holes 30 in casing member I2. In the second casing member I4, preferably below the disc valve I8, is a central circular chamber 32, surrounded by the annular chamber 34, and divided from it'by the wall 36, the margin 38 of which forms a seat for the disc valve I8. Disc valve I8 is normally closed against its seat on wall 36, sealing off communication between the chambers 32 and 34.

Communicating with the inner chamber 32 is the pipe 4E! leading to the vacuum operated device, and the outer chamber 34 communicates with the vacuum providing means through the pipe 42. Y

The casing portion I 2 has an axial extension 44 provided with a bore 46 to receive and serve' as a guide for the stem 41 of valve 51B, which stem Il extends through the aperture 20 in disc valve I8, and has connected to it the valve head 50 which is preferably of poppet formation, and of greater diameter than the aperture 20 of disc valverl and is preferably formed with an upwardly extending margin or rim 52 adapted to engage the valve disc I8 on the under side thereoi when valve 4B is lifted.

1n the lowered or normal position oi poppet valve i8 (Figs. 2 and 3) there is a clearance between the rim 52 and the disc valve I8 so that air can flow freely past valve head 50 and through opening 2G.

Above the cylindrical upwardly extending portion in which the valve stem is guided, is the washer 54, slightly larger in diameter than said portion 4, and above the washer 54, surrounding the valve stem 41, is the resilient compression member 56 of suitable elastic material such as rubber, or a coiled spring may be used instead. l

On top of this is, preferably, a washer 58 and on this the adjusting nut 60 and lock nut 62 on the threaded upper end of the valve stem 41. These nuts serve to adjust the clearance between the rim 52 of poppet valve head 56 and the disc valve I8.

A spring 64 surrounds the downward extension 65 of valve stern guide member 44 and exerts a downwar-d pr-essure on the valve head 56. The valve stem 41 is preventedirom rotating by the pin 66 which slides in slot 68 forme-d in said downward extension 65 of casing portion I2 and is retained in place by spring 64 surrounding said extension part 65.

rIhe sleeve 10, to which is attached the operating lever 1I, surrounds the cylindrical part 44 of the upper' casing member, and at the top of this part, the sleeve is enlarged forming here a shoulder l2, on which rests the washer 54, the sleeve 18 with enlarged bore preferably extending upward a short distance.

Referring now to Fig. l, the sleeve 10 has a portion 14 cut away at its low-er end, forming an inclined way 16. The upper casing member I2 has an upwardly extending lug 18, on which the inclined way 16 rests. When sleeve 10 is rotated by means of lever 1I, inclined way 15 slides on lug 18 and raises the sleeve 18. This in turn raises the washer 54 which, acting through the compressible member 56 elevates the valve 48 against the downward pressure of the spring 64, acting on the valve head 50. Valve head 5D on iirst raising will rst close hole 28 in disc valve I8 and on further elevation will lift up the valve The' operation of the control valve apparatus will be understood from Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Poppet valve 48 is normally in the offvposition (Fig. 3) with the disc valve I8 resting on the margin 38 of the annular wall 36, and with the poppet valve head 50 open and its margin 52 clear of the lower surface of the disc valve I8. This puts the tube 40 leading to the vacuum operated devlce into communication with th-e atmosphere through the holes 38 in the casing member I2, and the operated mechanism would be in a released condition.

As the poppet valve 48 is raised, as by turning the lever 1I, the rim 52 comes into contact with the dise valve la es seen in Fig. 4, thus cutting ofi communication of pipe 46 with the atmosphere. A further raising of the poppet valve 48 as seen in Fig. 5, lifts disc valve I8 from its seat 38, thus opening communication between the chambers 82 and 34, and between the pipe 48, leading to the vacuum operated device, and pipe 42 leading to the vacuum providing means. In this position the piston, diaphragm, etc. of the vacuum device is operated to actuate the mechanism, as for example to apply the brakes, or the like. When the poppet valve 48 is lowered, the disc valve I8 is seated upon the seat 38 and closes off the passage from the Vacuum operated Vmeans to the vacuum producing means, as seen in Fig. 4. A further downward movement of poppet valve 48 opens a clearance between valve rim 52 and disc valve I8, allowing atmosphere to enter the vacuum operated device through pipe 48, thus restoring the mechanism to its original condition (Fig. 3).

In practice an even adjustment or regulation is desirable as for setting brakes with light pressure. My invention enables this'to be accomplished in the following way: e With disk valve I8 held off its seat on the Wall margin 38 through elevation of poppet valve 48,

and the hole 26 in valve I8 closed by valve 48 being elevated, and partial vacuum in the chambers 32 and 34, the valve I8 can yield in response to increased vacuum by exing and so approach toward or reach seated position on the seating margin 38.

A. like eiect is obtained through compressible member 56 yielding in response to increased vacuuinin chambers 32 and/or 34 or expanding on decrease of vacuum therein, and this is true even if the valve I8 should be stiff and rigid. I prefer to use a flexing valve I8 and also the compressible member 56 in order to get maximum response to pressure diiference.

The degree of pressure reduction available on the operated device through chamber 32 is thus self-regulating for each particular position of the handle 1I that is less than suicient to elevate the disc valve I8 up to the full wide open position. Increase of pressure reduction below disc valve I8 serves, through this limited range of adjustment of handle 1I, to reduce the height of opening at 38 by either the valve I8 or member 56 yielding in response thereto, and thereby reducing the extent of communication over margin 38 from the source of reduced pressure to the operated device, while decrease of pressure reduction or pressure rise in the region below vdisc valve I8 serves to increase the free communication between source of pressure reduction and Xcuum operated device over the margin of wall When the disc valve or diaphragm I8 is raised clear of lseat 38 the differential or floating eiiect obtained as described is no longer produced and the maximum vacuum is transmitted for actuating the brakes or other operated device.

It is important to give the disc valve or diaphragm I8 the necessary stiffness and resilience, and this may be effected in several ways. The diaphragm may be made suiiiciently stiff and resilient in itself, or it may be provided with the spring 23 to hold it to its seat on margin 38 of wall 36, or it may be backed by a reinforcement such as the annular disc 22 which is preferably slitted to form spring tongues 26, but may not be. It is, however, essential, according to my experience, that it have the ample central aperture 20 substantially as herein described and shown.

The adjusting nuts 60 and 52 permit a quick and easy adjustment of the distance of the valve rim 52 toward and away from the disc valve I8, and facilitate the perfect regulation and operation of the valving apparatus.

I have shown the control valve apparatus as operated by a hand lever 1I, rotating a sleeve 18. It is to be understood, however, that any convenient operating means may be used, and that the preferred embodiment shown for illustration and affording an understanding of the invention can be further modified in 'a variety of ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: f

l. A control valving apparatus for vacuum operated devices comprising a resilient bendable annular disc valve, casing means supporting said disc valve and having an opening to the atmosphere above the disc valve, two concentric chambers below said disc valve with a dividing wall forming a seat for said disc valve, said inner chamber having communication through the disc valve with the atmosphere, a passage provided from the inner chamber to communicate with thevacuum operated device, a passage provided from the outer chamber to communicate with the vacuum producing means, a valve having actuating means extending -reely through said disc valve, adapted on being moved to engage said disc valve at a material distance from said dividing wall and seal said inner chamber from the atmosphere, and on being further moved to move said disc valve from its seat on said dividing wall between the chambers and open communication between said chambers.

2. in control valving apparatus for vacuum operated devices, an annular disc valve exposed above to the atmosphere, below said disc valve an outer and an inner chamber with a Wall between them forming a seat for said disc valve to seal said outer from said inner chamber, said inner chamber having communication through said disc valve with the atmosphere, a passage provided from said inner chamber to communicate with the vacuum operated device, a passage provided from the outer chamber to communicate with the vacuum producing means, a valve extending freely through the opening in the annular disc valve and adapted on being moved to engage said disc valve and seal said inner chamber from the atmosphere and when further moved toinove said disc valve from its seat on the dividing wall between the chambers and open communication between the chambers, a control member for said valve, and a resilient member between said control member and said valve.

3. In a control valve for vacuum operated devices, a resilient disc valve having a central aperture and having the space above it open to the atmosphere, an enclosure below said disc valve divided into an outer and an inner chamber by a wall forming a seat for said disc valve, means for connecting the inner chamber with a vacuum operated device, and means for connecting the outer chamber with a vacuum producing means, a valve separated from said disc valve and adapted to be raised and to engage said dise valve thereby sealing the inner chamber from the atmosphere, and on being iurther raised to lift said disc valve from its seat on the dividing wall between the chambers thereby opening communication between the vacuum operated device and the vacuum producing means.

in a control valve for suction operation devices, a disc valve having a central opening and having te space above it open to 'the atmosphere, an inner and an outer chamber below said disc valve separated by an annular wall forming a seat for said disc valve and sealing said inner from said outer chamber, means for connecting said outer chamber with suction means, and means for connecting said inner chamber with a suction operated device, a poppet valve, free from the disc valve, having an upwardly extending rim adapted to be raised against said disc valve and to seal said inner chamber from the atmosphere and when further raised to lift said disc valve from the dividing wall between the inner and outer chambers and thereby connect the suction operated device with the suction means.

5. In a control valving apparatus for vacuum operated devices, a disc valve having a central aperture, and the space above it open tothe atmosphere, a spring disc of substantially the same shape resting on said disc valve and loeinT adapted to give said disc valve resilience, an inner and an outer chamber provided below said disc valve and an annular wall therebetween forming a seat for Said disc valve to seal the outer from the inner chamber, means of communication provided between the inner chamber and a vacuum operated device, and means of communication provided between the outer chamber and a vacuum producing means, a poppet valve with an upwardly extending rim adapted to be raised against said disc valve to thereby seal the inner chamber from the atmosphere, and when further' raised to lift said disc valve from the dividing wall thus connecting the outer with the inner chamber and for connecting a suction operated device with a suction producing means.

6. In a control valving apparatus for vacuum operated devices, a disc valve having a central hole and the space above it open to the atmosphere, a spring disc of substantially the same shape resting on said disc Valve, said spring disc having radial slots extending outwardly from the central hole and adapted to give said disc valve resilience, an inner' and an outer chamber provided below the disc valve, an annular wall therebetween forming a seat for said disc valve and sealing the outer from the inner chamber, means of communication provided between the inner chamber and a vacuum operated device, and means ci communication provided between the outer chamber and a vacuum producing means, a pepper, valve with an upwardly extending flange adapted to be raised and to engage said disc valve, and when further raised to lif t the disc valve from the dividing wall thus connecting the chambers and thereby connecting a suction producing sans with a suction operated device.

7. A control valve apparatus Yfor vacuum operated devices comprising a disc valve having a central aperture, a disc of the same shape resting on the disc valve adapted to give resilience thereto, a valve easing Vopen to the atmosphere above the diaphragm and having an outer and an inner chamber below the diaphragm separated by an annular wall serving as a seat for the diaphragm and sealing the outer from the inner chamber, means of communication provided between the inner chamber and the vacuum operated device, and means or communication provided between the outer chamber and the vacuum producing means, a pcppet valve having a head with an upwardly extending rim adapted to be raised and to engage the diaphragm and seal said inner charnber from the atmosphere, and when further raised to lift the diaphragm from the dividing wail, the stern ci the poppet valve extending upwardly above the diaphragm, a valve stem guide slidably suaporting said valve stem, said valve stem being threaded at its upper end, and nuts thereon adapted to adjust the clearance between the valve head rim and the disc valve, and a spring adapted to exert downward pressure on said valve head.

8. A control valve apparatus for vacuum operated devices comprising a disc valve having a central aperture, a spring disc of the saine shape held against the upper surface of said disc valve, a valve casing open to the atmosphere above said disc valve and having an outer and an inner chamber below the disc valve separated by an annular wall serving as a seat for the disc valve and sealing the inner from the outer chamber, means of communication provided between the inner chamber and a vacuum op-erated device, means of communication provided between the outer chamber and a vacuum producing means, a poppet valve adapted to be raised and to engage the disc valve and wheniurther raised to lift the.

disc valve from the dividing wall, said valve having a stem extending upwardly above said disc valve and threaded at its upper end, means including a valve stem guide for supporting said valve stem, a washer on the valve stem above the valve stem guide, a esilient member surrounding the valve stem on top or" the washer, nuts on the threaded end oi valve stem above said resilient member, means adapted to engage said washer to raise the valve, and a spring adapted to hold the valve normally in a lowered position.

9. A control valve for vacuum operated devices comprising a disc valve having a central ap-erture, a disc of the same shape held against said disc valve and having radial slots extending from the central o ening outward toward the circumference, a valve casing open to the atmosphere above the disc valve and having an outer and an inner chamber below the disc valve separated by an annular wall forming a seat for the disc valve, means of communication provided between the inner chamber and a vacuum operated device and means of communication provided between the outer chamber and a vacuum producing means, a valve adapted to be raised and to engage the disc valve and Iseal the inner chamber from the atmosphere, and on being further raised to lift the disc valve from the dividing wall between the chambers, and said valve having a stem eX- tending upwardly above the disc valve and threaded at its upper end, guide means for said valve stem, a washer on the stem above the guide means, a resilient member surrounding the valve stem on top of said washer, nuts on the threaded portion of the stem and bearing against the resilient member for adjusting the clearance between the head of the valve and the disc valve, a sleeve surrounding said valve stem guide and provided with a control lever for turning the same and having an inclined way at its lower end, a lug projecting upwardly from the valve stem guide and adapted to engage the inclined Way whereby the inclined way may slide on the lug to raise the sleeve, a shoulder provided at the upper end oi the sleeve and engaging the projecting washer to raise the valve when the sleeve is rotated, and a spring adapted to hold said valveV normally in a lowered position.

10. In a control valve apparatus for vacuum operated devices, a disc valve exposed at its upper side to the atmosphere, an inner and an outer chamber provided below said disc valve and divided by an annular wall forming a seat for the disc valve, said inner chamber having communication with a vacuum operated device and having communication through the disc valve with the atmosphere, means of communication provided between the outer chamber and a vacuum producing means, a valve adapted to be raised and to engage said disc valve and seal said inner chamber from the atmosphere and on being further raised to lift said disc valve from its seat on the dividing wall between the chambers, means for raising said valve, and a helical spring bearing on the disc valve over the annular wall for reseating said disc valve.

11. In a control valve apparatus for vacuum operated devices, a casing, a disc valve exposed on its upper side to the atmosphere, an inner and an outer chamber provided below said disc valve and divided by an annular wall forming a seat for the disc valve, said inner chamber having communication with a vacuum operated device and having communication through the disc valve with the atmosphere, means of communication provided between the outei` chamber and a vacuum producing means, a valve adapted to be raised and to engage said disc valve and seal said inner chamber from the aatmosphere and on being further raised to lift said disc valve from its seat on the dividing wall between the chambers, means for raising said valve and a spring for returning the valve, a valve stem for the valve extending upwardly, a valve stem guide formed in the casing, said valve stem being slidable therein, a resilient member around said valve stem above the valve guide, and nuts on the upper threaded end of said valve stem and against said resilient member for adjusting the clearance between said valve and the disc valve.

12. Device of claim 9 in which a vertical slot is provided in the lower end of the valve guide, and a pin is provided on the valve stem projecting into the slot to prevent rotation of valve.

13. In a control valve apparatus for vacuum operated devices, valve means adapted on being given one movement to open a vacuum operated device to the atmosphere and seal oiic a vacuum supplying device, and on being given an opposite movement nrst to close the communication to the atmosphere and secondly put the vacuum supplying means and the vacuum operated device into connection, spring means for resisting all ci said opposite movement, and an additional spring means for resisting the second part of said opposite movement.

14. A suction valve having an open mouthed suction chamber communicating with a suction source, a second chamber communicating with the line in which suction is to be controlled, a resilient bendable plate secured at one side and free at the other side, said plate lying over the mouth of said suction chamber and serving as a closure for same, said suction chamber and said second chamber communicating with each other when said plate is lifted from the mouth of said suction chamber, and means for lifting the -free end of the plate while not restraining it against movement sideways.

15. A suction valve having a central opentopped recess communicating with the line in which suction is to be controlled, an annular open-topped recess surrounding the central recess and communicating with a suction source, a circular bendable spring plate, having a central opening, overlying the mouth of said annular recess and serving as a closure for same, said plate being secured at its outer edge, said central recess and said annular communicating with each other when said plate is lifted from the mouth of said annular recess, and a lifting means adapted and arranged to engage the inner edge of said plate to lift same from the mouth of the annular recess while leaving the inner edge of said plate free to retract outwardly.

16. A suction valve having an open-mouthed suction chamber communicating with a suction source, a second chamber communicating with the line-in which suction is to be controlled, a plate lying over the mouth of said suction chamber and serving as a closure for same, said suction chamber and said second chamber communieating with each other when said plate is lifted from the mouth of said suction chamber, means for lifting said plate, a control member for said lifting means, and a resiliently yielding member interposed between said control member and said lifting means.

CHARLES B. KING. 

